Fire Hazard: Kenmore Bottom Freezer Refrigerator Review (model 795.77304600)

by Bob L.
(Oregon, OH.)

I have had my Kenmore bottom freezer refrigerator for 4 or 5 years and haven't had a problem but now it's become a fire hazard.


The one time I had trouble one time with it, it's wasn't cooling. I vacuumed all of the air vents etc. on the bottom and back and that took care of that.

On a more serious note, we went out for a couple of hours and when we returned the light inside the refrigerator had stayed on and melted the plastic housing and was smoking.

I am certain that had we not come home when we did there would have been a fire. Obviously this concerns me. I would like to know who to contact to discuss this with.

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Comments for Fire Hazard: Kenmore Bottom Freezer Refrigerator Review (model 795.77304600)

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Aug 02, 2017
 Light stays on Kenmore 795.77304600
by: KT

Lights stay on, heating the inside to over 60 degrees and spoiling food. This first happened approx 2 years ago and I had to loosen the right upper bulb so it wouldn't work. Time went by and the refrig worked fine. Yesterday the left upper bulb would not turn off when the doors closed, heating and spoiling the food. The top shelf was SUPER HOT.

I called Sears and the Rep could not be more evasive. First said, "no warranty" but I explained that this is a known issue. Then she switched me to someone else who tried to sell me a home warranty. I said, "no thanks." he scheduled an appt for me for 8 days later, but again would not confirm that my model/serial # was in the recall. He said there is a $99 service call fee and that only the technician could verify that the repair would be covered. He said the parts would be free, but the service fee and labor is not covered. How ridiculous!

I called Customer Care today and again, more evasive talk, and no firm answers. That guy told me, "Ma'am, patiently wait for your service appt." I am tempted to do the repair myself! The videos online say it's an easy repair. I see the parts for the control board and light socket assembly are available for around $200.

Has anyone had this repair AT NO COST? as it should be since this is a Fire Hazard...
And, of course, I will NEVER buy another Kenmore appliance!
Oct 03, 2014
 Kenmore Fridge Fire Hazard
by: Anonymous

I had this same issue with this fridge. Call the Sears Safety recall (product resolution center)at 1-800-659-7026. They are fully aware of this issue, and are happy to fix it!! Ask to speak to someone in the kitchen appliances area about a recall issue.

I called this morning, and they are sending someone out to fix it for free.
Mar 02, 2014
 Fire Hazard
by: Diana Harsch

When our fridge was just over one year old, we came home to the lights on in the fridge and the whole top temperature control panel melted. We fought with Sears to take care of the problem and they would not. We didn't have a service contract, and when the gentleman came to our home, he quote us $800 to fix it. We felt that was utterly ridiculous and fought Sears to the top (Chicago) to no avail. They would not help us at all and told us the warranty was up that there was nothing they could do. Now quite a few years later, we find out it's was a common problem. The fridges should've been recalled and we should've been notified. We have been using the fridge now with no temp control with just one bulb to avoid a fire. I haven't purchased a Sears item since, and bad mouth them to anyone that mentions that they are in the market for an appliance.
Jan 16, 2012
 second post
by: Anonymous

I had the same problem with my Kenmore refrigerator.

I called Sears and at first they said I would have to pay because it was out of warranty and they agreed to send someone out to look at it because of the possible fire hazard.

The service guy came out but appeared to be unhappy about being there. After spending 30 minutes in his van talking on his phone, he came back in and said he had to order parts and that it would be fixed at no cost to me.

When the parts arrived he came back, still not happy to be there, and fixed it.

He then tried to sell me a maintenance insurance policy. I said I have had good luck in the past with Kenmore appliances so I didn't want it. He said that the refrigerator was made in Korea and he was pretty sure that I was going to have a lot more trouble with it.

So far it is still doing OK. (knocking on wood now)and I hope it works OK from here on out.
Jan 12, 2012
 The Kenmore French Door Refrigerator is a Fire Hazard!!!
by: daggett

The Kenmore French Door, bottom freezer is a fire hazard!

The light stayed on and burned the plastic around inside of our refrigerator. We were out of town when it first started. Had we not returned I believe we could have had a complete and total tragedy.

I called service live and gave the serial number and model number. They said they would fix it... so we shall see.

Also there is a class action suit pending according to the repair operator.
Mar 30, 2011
 Fire From Refrigerator Light Strikes Again
by: Anonymous

I have had the same issue with the light staying on and almost causing a fire.

In the operators manual it tells you to unplug the unit and then plug it back in. This did re-set the light so it worked but a short time later the problem occurred again. Now unplugging does not help.

In the end I had to remove the light bulbs. Also, when this happens the heat from the light staying on ruins the food inside the fridge.

Can any body help? Sears will send someone out and take care of it for $550.00...get real.

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